ABSTRACT
Lead is one of the main environmental contaminants posing health hazards to animals and humans alike. This research work was carried out to evaluate the effects of Lead exposure on haematological parameters of the Wistar rat (Rattus novergicus) and also, to determine the effect of coconut water on this lead induced haematological changes. Forty-eight rats were assigned into four groups. Lead nitrate was administered to group A, coconut water and lead nitrate to group B, coconut water only to group C and feed and water to the control group D respectively. The rats were given 4g/kg body weight of lead and 2ml coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) water orally for twelve weeks. The body weights were also recorded through the duration of the experiment. At the end of the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th week, blood was collected from the heart and haematological parameters were analysed. The results indicated that the mean values of white blood cells, red blood cells, haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration and red blood cell distribution width (8.53 ±1.19 (×103µl), 6.16 ± 0.459(×106µl), 11.68 ± 0.94(g/dl), 27.38 ± 2.02 (g/dl) and 14.43 ± 0.33(%) respectively) were reduced in the group treated with lead nitrate as compared to the healthy control (14.73 ± 1.43 (×103µl), 8.50 ± 0.23 (×106µl), 16.15± 0.57 (g/dl),35.15 ± 0.28 (g/dl) and 17.80 ± 0.96 (%) respectively) and these values increased in group treated with coconut water only and the group treated with lead and coconut water. This difference across the groups were significant (P<0.05) while the mean values of lymphocyte, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and platelet also showed a decrease when compared with the mean value of the control groups, however, the differences across the groups were not significant (P>0.05). From this study, it was shown that exposure to lead caused an increase in value of haematological parameters and that coconut water possess ameliorative effects against lead toxicity in rats.
